Memorias de investigación
Research Publications in journals:
Assessment of expected damage on buildings subjected to Lorca earthquake through an energy-based seismic index method and nonlinear dynamic response analyses
Year:2014

Research Areas
  • Engineering

Information
Abstract
The city of Lorca (Spain) was hit on May 11th, 2011, by two consecutive earthquakes ofmagnitudes 4.6 and 5.2Mw, causing casualties and important damage in buildings. Many of the damaged structureswere reinforced concrete frames with wide beams. This study quantifies the expected level of damage on this structural type in the case of the Lorca earthquake by means of a seismic index Iv that compares the energy input by the earthquake with the energy absorption/dissipation capacity of the structure. The prototype frames investigated represent structures designed in two time periods (1994?2002 and 2003?2008), in which the applicable codeswere different. The influence of themasonry infillwalls and the proneness of the frames to concentrate damage in a given story were further investigated through nonlinear dynamic response analyses. It is found that (1) the seismic index method predicts levels of damage that range from moderate/severe to complete collapse; this prediction is consistent with the observed damage; (2) the presence of masonry infill walls makes the structure very prone to damage concentration and reduces the overall seismic capacity of the building; and (3) a proper hierarchy of strength between beams and columns that guarantees the formation of a strong column-weak beam mechanism (as prescribed by seismic codes), as well as the adoption of counter-measures to avoid the negative interaction between non-structural infill walls and the main frame, would have reduced the level of damage from Iv =1 (collapse) to about Iv =0.5 (moderate/severe damage).
International
Si
JCR
Si
Title
Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering
ISBN
1570-761X
Impact factor JCR
1,368
Impact info
Volume
12
10.1007/s10518-013-9513-9
Journal number
From page
2049
To page
2073
Month
SIN MES
Ranking
Cuartil Q2
Participants
  • Autor: Amadeo Benavent Climent UPM
  • Autor: Alberto Escobedo Universidad de Granada
  • Autor: Jesús Donaire Ävila Universidad de Granada
  • Autor: Elena Oliver Saiz Universidad de Granada
  • Autor: Ana Luisa Ramírez Márquez Universidad de Granada

Research Group, Departaments and Institutes related
  • Creador: Grupo de Investigación: Ingeniería Sísmica: Dinámica de Suelos y Estructuras